The Role of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Thoracolumbar Spine Trauma

Minimally invasive surgical stabilization of thoracolumbar spine injuries has the potential to reduce surgical morbidity, improve postoperative care and rehabilitation, and even serve as a lifesaving measure in the treatment of patients with multiple traumatic injuries. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of thoracolumbar trauma have been investigated. Although it seems to offer considerable advantages over conventional open surgery, more outcome data are needed to prove its true advantages. The role of minimally invasive surgery in treating spine trauma will likely increase significantly as the field progresses and as techniques are enhanced and more widely learned.